FULL PLATES, GRATEFUL HEARTS – PART 2 “Thanks In Every Season”
Gratitude Starts with Perspective – Contentment.
Philippians 4:11-13, 11 “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
Contentment. Paul knew how to live a life of gratitude through contentment. He trusted God to provide for his needs and relinquished control of his circumstances. If there was ever someone who could have complained about all they had to endure, that would be Paul. But instead of complaining and looking at his current circumstances, he chose to be grateful for the sacrifice that Jesus made and the redemption he received, focusing on the blessing of eternity with Christ.
Colossians 3:1-2, 1 “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”
Focusing on the eternal goes against our worldly minds but that truly is a key in practicing gratitude. When my perspective rests on all that God has done for me and the fact that because of Jesus, I can spend eternity with Him in Heaven, it helps me realize that the earthly things that are sources of my discontent are fleeting and truly do not matter.
Psalm 37:3-5, “Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.
5 Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.”
Trusting God to provide is another way perspective leads to gratitude. God knows what we are walking through at every point of our lives. Nothing is impossible for God; He will make a way to meet our needs. Because He is trustworthy, we can choose to rejoice always, as we thank Him for His goodness. We must not forget that the “heart’s desires” that David is speaking of are those desires that are in line with God’s call on our lives.
DAVID ALSO KNEW THAT TRUE JOY IS ONLY FOUND IN GOD’S PRESENCE. HE SPEAKS OF THIS THROUGHOUT THE PSALMS. THIS JOY IS A CHOICE THAT WE MUST MAKE EACH DAY, OFTEN MANY TIMES PER DAY. AS PASTOR SHAUN SAID, “JOY ISN’T A REACTION; IT’S A DECISION.”
2 Corinthians 4:18, 18 “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
Paul exhorts the Corinthians and all believers to focus our gaze on the things that cannot be seen with human eyes. This is easier said than done, but it IS possible. This is where relying on our Christian community and the promises found in the Bible will sustain us, if we lean on them.
Psalm 95:1-3, 1 “Come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come to him with thanksgiving.
Let us sing psalms of praise to him.
3 For the Lord is a great God,
a great King above all gods.”
David knows that the Lord deserves all our praise and honor – if we have nothing else, we have our salvation which is everything. Mark reminds us of this truth in Mark 8:36 “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”
PUTTING THIS INTO PRACTICE
Reflect on ways that you currently practice gratitude.
Is your practice of gratitude focused more on the gift, or the gift Giver?
Read 1Timothy 6. What is one thing Paul exhorts Timothy to do in this passage? Why?
How can you apply this teaching of Paul’s to the practice of gratitude? Which verse supports your answer?
Read Psalm 50:1-15. Re-read verse 14. Asaph reminds us that God is looking at our hearts, searching them for gratitude.
Is there anything that God needs from His followers?
What is the one thing that God requests from those who believe in Him?
Write out a prayer asking God to continue to reveal if there are any areas in your life where you need to grow in your practice of thankfulness as your sacrifice to Him.
Where is your focus today? Is it on your feelings or is it on God’s favor?
Look for a passage in Scripture that we have not covered that speaks about focusing on God’s favor for His children as He invites them into eternity with Him. Share this with your small group.
What area of your life is it hardest to shift your focus from feelings to favor? Take time this week to ask God to reveal how He is calling you to fully surrender this area of your life to Him.
Read Deuteronomy 28, about the blessings for obedience to God and curses for disobedience. We see through Scripture how Israel spent a moment in the blessings but a lifetime in the curses. What is God speaking to you through this passage? How can your practice of gratitude help you move forward toward the promised blessings? Don’t rush through this question and remember that Jesus died to provide believers with the ultimate blessing of eternity with Him. This is something for which we can always give thanks.
